Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) announces a new Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Project Code which the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Programs and Offices should use, as applicable, to track allocations and spending in socioeconomic activities. The Socioeconomic Project Code, LXSISOEC0000, can be used in conjunction with any BLM Cost Center or Program Element.

Policy/Action: Socioeconomic activities include analyzing social and economic conditions and impacts for land use plans and implementation activities, preparing socioeconomic materials for public workshops and meetings (e.g., economic strategy workshops for Resource Management Plans or major Environmental Impact Statements), and writing individual reports for a particular office or program (e.g., the economic impacts of BLM activities in a field or district office). All BLM employees should use the new Socioeconomic Project Code (LXSISOEC0000) for contracts, time, and other budget dollars spent on these kinds of socioeconomic activities.

Ideally, all budget dollars allocated to and spent on socioeconomic activities could be recorded using the Socioeconomic WBS Project Code. However, some activities or contracts will have multiple applicable WBS codes. In these cases, and where it is not possible to enter multiple WBS codes, please use the WBS code that most specifically covers the immediate purpose of the spending. Hence, socioeconomic activities related to a project with a specific WBS code, for example, will still use that particular WBS code, even though it includes socioeconomic analysis.

Timeframe: This IM is effective October 1, 2012.

Budget Impact: None.

Background: Effective use of socioeconomic information, data, and analyses at the BLM can help managers and staff understand the human context and consequences of their decision-making. Tracking the BLM’s investment in socioeconomic activities will provide the BLM with cost-effective information on demand, outputs, benefits, and efficiency of these activities.

The Socioeconomic Project Code will allow the BLM to track allocations, spending, and investment in socioeconomic activities nationally, in order to provide information to leadership, managers, and BLM employees on the cost-effectiveness of these processes.

For more information on the BLM’s Socioeconomics Program, please contact the Bureau Senior Social Scientist or Social Science Analysts in the Washington Office (http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/planning/social_science.html). The BLM Socioeconomics Program provides policy direction, guidance, training, and direct Program and Field support to increase the BLM’s capacity for, and effective use of, socioeconomic information and analysis at the BLM.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.

Contact: If you have any questions, please contact Joel Larson, Social Science Program Analyst, at 202-912-7269, or jplarso@blm.gov.